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Jingle Balls
I saw it all…from his Yule log to his jingle balls. At a holiday party, I bumped into my naked sworn enemy. Everyone in my town knows Ronan as the dashing football star. I get it. He’s hot. And he can throw a ball. Big deal. He’s been my nightmare since I was nine. Now he’s a six-foot, drop-dead gorgeous version of the menace who terrorized me. So naturally, he’s my companion to every-single-freaking Christmas event this year. I’m Mrs. Claus in the annual parade. Ronan is Santa. Our nonstop banter should drive me insane. His cocky attitude should be a huge turn-off. But if there’s one man who can pull off seductive in a Santa suit—it’s Ronan. Let's just say, stockings aren’t the only thing hung at his house. If I can make it through the week without kissing him, it’ll be a Christmas miracle.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2018
499 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Waltz
36 books1,488 followersVanessa Waltz is an author of Dark Bad Boy Romance and lives in Seattle with her two ill-behaved cats.
Before she settled in Seattle, she lived in Northern California where she studied English Literature at San Jose State University. She pursued a career in medicine before making an about-face to write full-time. She also pens psychological thrillers as Rachel Hargrove.
She enjoys beer tasting, live music venues, and singing her heart out at horrified bar patrons.
Vanessa is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Email: info@vanessawaltzbooks.com
Website: www.vanessawaltzbooks.com
Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2JQ4PZ9
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JQ7i5R
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Before she settled in Seattle, she lived in Northern California where she studied English Literature at San Jose State University. She pursued a career in medicine before making an about-face to write full-time. She also pens psychological thrillers as Rachel Hargrove.
She enjoys beer tasting, live music venues, and singing her heart out at horrified bar patrons.
Vanessa is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Email: info@vanessawaltzbooks.com
Website: www.vanessawaltzbooks.com
Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2JQ4PZ9
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JQ7i5R
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
November 28, 2018
I am slightly disappointed with this book. It didn't really start getting good until 70% into the book. I'm left with unanswered questions.
It felt rushed at the end. All in all I've seen better from this author.
It felt rushed at the end. All in all I've seen better from this author.
December 10, 2018
Christmas ... yep, another Christmas read ... I need to check up with my Christmas count. funny romantic and some hot and steamy times too. I love small towns. Ronan & Gigi ... so sweet. HEA ending. I am trying to think ... I do believe Vanessa is a newbie author to me ... gotta check, in fact this is right, a new author, love finding new authors and a new Christmas read to me ... well done, so cool! happy times ... will read more from her asap!! must read Holiday read!!
December 16, 2018
Errrrm... 😳🙄
December 1, 2018
When Gigi's dumped by her fiancé, she has to go back home to her mom's and face all the pity and sympathy from not just her mom but her mom's friend and neighbor. To make things worse, her neighbor's son Ronan is in town too, visiting his mom for the holidays. Ronan, the boy who made her life miserable their entire growing up years. Ronan, the boy who's a man now. A really hot man. But still an ass. Or is he? Maybe he just likes teasing her and now that Gigi and he are adults, he just might see the beauty in her that he never bothered looking at before. When the two are thrown together by their moms into playing Santa and elf for their town's Christmas events, it just might be Ronan's chance at redemption, and at getting Gigi into his life in a way he never thought of before.
I thought this was a fun, spicy enemies to lovers holiday read. Ronan and Gigi had chemistry for days, and I loved seeing how gradually Gigi warmed up to him. He really was a changed man with a big heart. Gigi was perhaps a bit prickly, but considering she had just been dumped by her fiancé, I could understand why she wasn't that friendly at first.
ARC via Booksprout for an honest review.
Full review posted on Live Through Books Blog.
January 20, 2019
Ronan and Gigi have known each other most of their lives and he's been a thorn in her side for most of it. But this Christmas they seem to be paired together for just about everything - including her Mrs Claus to his Santa!! Vanessa Waltz really knows how to write a compelling page turner with fabulous characters that I really liked and was hoping they'd have their own HEA. A lovely storyline pulling them together in a believable way and is so romantic as well as being FUN! Really looking forward to reading more of her stories. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED!!
January 8, 2023
Wow! This story really proves that hurt people hurt people!
Gigi and Ronan's families are still next door neighbors and have been since Gigi and Ronan were children. Ronan's father walked out on his family and left his wife and two sons with a lot of pain and anger. Ronan reacts by humiliating Gigi in front of the whole school and the town has not forgotten. Nevertheless, he feels that's in the past and now he wants a relationship with her. That skiing scene on the mountain is hilarious!
However, how can Gigi believe Ronan when he says he loves her, when a second betrayal turns up? Now what?
Gigi and Ronan's families are still next door neighbors and have been since Gigi and Ronan were children. Ronan's father walked out on his family and left his wife and two sons with a lot of pain and anger. Ronan reacts by humiliating Gigi in front of the whole school and the town has not forgotten. Nevertheless, he feels that's in the past and now he wants a relationship with her. That skiing scene on the mountain is hilarious!
However, how can Gigi believe Ronan when he says he loves her, when a second betrayal turns up? Now what?
November 29, 2018
OMG Vanessa loved it. This all about Gigi and Ronan, They were neighbours on till they both went off to college. Ronan was a little shite to Gigi when they were growing up, She got the brount of all his jokes and prankes. They are both home from college, so can these enemies be come livers . Well you just have to ONE-CLICK NOW to read find out. You get not spoilers from me. I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy from Booksprout
December 10, 2018
Couldn't get enough of Gigi & Ronan. Wow. Loved the characters & so much smoldering chemistry between them. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review for a copy of the book.
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December 11, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/11/2020)! 🎁
December 6, 2018
This is the story of childhood neighbor enemies Gigi and Ronin. Gigi grew up being tormented, embarrassed, humiliated, and teased by her next door neighbor Ronin. All through her teenage years, he pulled more pranks, and tricks on Gigi. He made her cry, mad, and embarrassed. She hated him, and wanted nothing to do with him.
Now, years later, Gigi returns home for the holidays. However, she just got dumped by her fiance, and has come home to try to forget about it. She comes home to be dragged into helping her mom and next door neighbor set up for the annual Christmas party thrown every year by Ronin’s mom. When she is asked to go to the garage for condensed milk, she ends up seeing Ronan in the bathroom wearing nothing but a smirk. She notices he is no longer a boy, but a full grown man, with everything in the right places! He makes some wise cracks to her, and embarrasses her yet again!
Ronin is now the star quarterback for his college, and comes home for the holiday to rest his Achilles’ tendon so he can continue with his potential career. He may even be chosen for the Pros. When he sees Gigi (Good Girl) staring at him while he is shaving, he notices that Good Girl has filled out in all the right places. He learns that she was dumped by her fiancé, and begins to pursue her in a romantic fashion, but his past catches up with him, and she wants nothing to do with him.
When Gigi’s mom goes away for the weekend, Ronin’s mom makes him try to make up for his previous antics, and keep an eye on her.
Gigi’s mom volunteered her to play Mrs.Claus in the holiday festival, and guess who was volunteered to play Santa? Ronin. She is placed together with Ronin all weekend. She cannot get away from him. She notices he is different than before. He is actually nice for a change. She still thinks that Ronin is still the prankster he once was and tries to get away from him.
Ronin, on the other hand is trying to change, and wants to be with Goid Girl. He keeps sticking out. His Brother Liam ends up playing “matchmaker” and gets them to go on a date. The date works, and when things get steamy, something happens to prevent them from exploring further. Ronin decides to take Gigi away for the weekend so they can be together without any interruptions. When they come back, how can they tell their families that they are now dating, after so much torment before?
Can bitter enemies become more than friends? This is a steamy, funny, refreshing holiday story. A good read!
Now, years later, Gigi returns home for the holidays. However, she just got dumped by her fiance, and has come home to try to forget about it. She comes home to be dragged into helping her mom and next door neighbor set up for the annual Christmas party thrown every year by Ronin’s mom. When she is asked to go to the garage for condensed milk, she ends up seeing Ronan in the bathroom wearing nothing but a smirk. She notices he is no longer a boy, but a full grown man, with everything in the right places! He makes some wise cracks to her, and embarrasses her yet again!
Ronin is now the star quarterback for his college, and comes home for the holiday to rest his Achilles’ tendon so he can continue with his potential career. He may even be chosen for the Pros. When he sees Gigi (Good Girl) staring at him while he is shaving, he notices that Good Girl has filled out in all the right places. He learns that she was dumped by her fiancé, and begins to pursue her in a romantic fashion, but his past catches up with him, and she wants nothing to do with him.
When Gigi’s mom goes away for the weekend, Ronin’s mom makes him try to make up for his previous antics, and keep an eye on her.
Gigi’s mom volunteered her to play Mrs.Claus in the holiday festival, and guess who was volunteered to play Santa? Ronin. She is placed together with Ronin all weekend. She cannot get away from him. She notices he is different than before. He is actually nice for a change. She still thinks that Ronin is still the prankster he once was and tries to get away from him.
Ronin, on the other hand is trying to change, and wants to be with Goid Girl. He keeps sticking out. His Brother Liam ends up playing “matchmaker” and gets them to go on a date. The date works, and when things get steamy, something happens to prevent them from exploring further. Ronin decides to take Gigi away for the weekend so they can be together without any interruptions. When they come back, how can they tell their families that they are now dating, after so much torment before?
Can bitter enemies become more than friends? This is a steamy, funny, refreshing holiday story. A good read!
December 5, 2018
To Love or To Hate?? That is the question
When Gigi goes back to her mother's for the holidays after a broken engagement, she is faced with her childhood friend- turned tormentor. As if that wasn't enough she accidentally seen him naked in all his glory.
Gigi's hate for Ronan hasn't worn out even thought they were both now in college and grown up. He was the star quarterback and his college and she was a med student who procrastinated on taking med exam. But to Gigi's dismayed everything kept making their path cross at every turning point, so what to do when things don't go your way?? well you start to embrace them some how and that's how Gigi began to see Ronan's good side and how much he had change. Unfortunately as the story develops things start getting a bit more heated and Gigi begins Lusting for Ronan, but Ronan is falling for her. So what happens when this 2 frenemies begin indulging on their needs??? read and find out for yourselves ……
So I personally liked this book, for so many reasons one of them being a holiday romance and how 2 frenemies can work out their differences to make things work out for the best, but on another note I felt a bit disappointed because there were quite a few un-answer questions, and the end felt a bit rushed,. kind of made me a bit frustrated. but aside from that it was pretty good and got a few good laughs from it as well.
When Gigi goes back to her mother's for the holidays after a broken engagement, she is faced with her childhood friend- turned tormentor. As if that wasn't enough she accidentally seen him naked in all his glory.
Gigi's hate for Ronan hasn't worn out even thought they were both now in college and grown up. He was the star quarterback and his college and she was a med student who procrastinated on taking med exam. But to Gigi's dismayed everything kept making their path cross at every turning point, so what to do when things don't go your way?? well you start to embrace them some how and that's how Gigi began to see Ronan's good side and how much he had change. Unfortunately as the story develops things start getting a bit more heated and Gigi begins Lusting for Ronan, but Ronan is falling for her. So what happens when this 2 frenemies begin indulging on their needs??? read and find out for yourselves ……
So I personally liked this book, for so many reasons one of them being a holiday romance and how 2 frenemies can work out their differences to make things work out for the best, but on another note I felt a bit disappointed because there were quite a few un-answer questions, and the end felt a bit rushed,. kind of made me a bit frustrated. but aside from that it was pretty good and got a few good laughs from it as well.
December 2, 2018
4.5 Jingle Balls!
Gigi and Ronan have a long history that spans the decades, mostly him tormenting her. Having just been dumped by her fiancé, she finds herself thrust into Christmas celebrations by her mother and finds Ronan is a part of these as well. Unbeknownst to them both, their mothers have persuaded them to participate in the annual Christmas Parade and they are Santa and Mrs Claus.
This book had intense moments but also some that were laugh out loud funny! Really liked Ronan and Gigi together and I hope we learn more about Liam and what’s going on with him at some point😍
Gigi and Ronan have a long history that spans the decades, mostly him tormenting her. Having just been dumped by her fiancé, she finds herself thrust into Christmas celebrations by her mother and finds Ronan is a part of these as well. Unbeknownst to them both, their mothers have persuaded them to participate in the annual Christmas Parade and they are Santa and Mrs Claus.
This book had intense moments but also some that were laugh out loud funny! Really liked Ronan and Gigi together and I hope we learn more about Liam and what’s going on with him at some point😍
December 7, 2022
The devil's in the details, and that's where this one fell apart. A decent enemies-to-lovers romance between childhood next door neighbors gets lost in the shoddy background and world-building (something I don't usually say about generic contemporary romance!)
Ronan (H) is a college football player home for the Christmas holidays. Gigi (h) is his next door neighbor and target of his childhood pranks growing up. He thinks she is a stick-in-the-mud, while she plain ol' hates his guts. They are volunteered by their moms to serve as Santa and Mrs. Claus in the town's annual festivities. Can they survive the season without killing each other? Or - with a touch of family meddling - could there be something more there?
So, those devilish details. It's like the author started writing about college age characters, but was pulling in details and character attributes from a story about full adults - mid to late 20s. Basically, things weren't consistent, as if the writer couldn't decide who she was writing about, or was combining lots of scenes from other stories (patchwork writing?). Examples:
* Both leads are students, supposedly in their senior year (she's taking MCATs and he's looking at NFL possibilities). But he'll "just quit" to be with her - a semester before he graduates??
* The whole 5 year relationship with James. She's taking her MCATs, so she's a senior, presumably. Which means, if they'd been together 5 years, he's from her home town and they'd been dating in high school. But that doesn't seem to be the case at all?
* They talk about themselves "acting like teenagers," horny, idiotic, or otherwise. Except these characters are still in college. College seniors don't really talk like that - they're only 22 themselves (on average). It sounded more like someone in their mid-upper 20s would talk.
* Likewise, Lance seems so weird, the way they talk about him as 'a frat boy gone to seed'. Again, these are all contemporaries, so they're all in their early 20s. That just doesn't sound right for a 22 yr old talking about another 22 yr old. And Lance didn't go to college - older adults might call him a frat boy even if he hadn't been to college, but another college student wouldn't. Another example sounding like the way someone a little older would talk (and in that case, if they were all in their upper 20s, the story might have been written that Lance had been a college classmate, making this potentially an accurate description). Again, like the author changed her mind about the characters and setting while she was writing.
* Ronan seems super unconcerned about his ankle injury for someone on a sports scholarship so close to graduation and/or signing a pro contract. I get the "wanting something more than football" but this was a bit much.
* Speaking of attitudes about his football... she talks about him already having a "booming career." Except he doesn't. He's a student playing football, not a pro. He might know he wants to play football (which isn't even the case), but until he has a signed contract, he's actually in a very precarious position. Not a booming career at all.
* Liam is a mess, descriptively. He's older than Ronan by 2 years. Ronan's a senior, so even if he's a 5th yr sr (was a red shirt freshman, maybe), that puts him at 23-24 at most. Which makes Liam 25-26ish. But he describes himself as "a thirty-year-old temporarily living at his mother’s house." But he's not temporarily living with his mom - he's home for the holidays. Huge difference!! For someone mature enough to be living alone in Manhattan, teaching at a community college (working on his Master's, as we find out in the Book 2 preview), and aware enough of others to accurately play Matchmaker, he then flips and acts like he's still in high school! He's just all over the place.
* The setting is a descriptive mess too. Danville apparently has a massive Christmas parade where they will custom tailor Santa suits for two college students (who probably won't be back next year) but the Nutcracker production is sad and pathetic and barely attended? And even if the former Claus volunteers weren't available this year, wouldn't there have been someone to take their place who was (a) closer to the actual age and build of the characters, and (b) a settled local?
* Ronan is a player for Northwestern - located in Illinois. The story takes place 'back home' in Connecticut. So what team is he practicing with in CT over the holiday break?
* Who the heck are the Flames? Northwestern is the Wildcats and Rutgers the Scarlet Knights. Is the Flames a fictitious NFL team? But a local comments that Ronan is - present tense - the QB for the Flames??
* They move in together 3 months after they start dating. While they're both still finishing their senior years? Three months after Christmas is March - midterms in Spring semester, at best! Certainly not at a point where they could move intogether, seeing as their schools are Illinois and New Jersey.
* At the end, he's making money as an Instagram influencer. Has he graduated? Because if not, that's completely against NCAA regulations.
And aside from those big picture issues, there are little continuity inconsistencies that could be distracting too. She's wearing a little black dress in the restuarant, but jeans in the car on the ride home. Or how she noticed he had shaved at the beginning of their date, but by the end, she's running her fingers over his stubble. That sort of thing.
Minor quibble time. While the epilogue has a cute proposal, what tree topper is small enough to be mistaken for a ring box? Would have been much more believable if it had been an ornament and not specifically a tree topper - those are always so much bigger.
Finally, there are some just weird character comments, mostly from Gigi. She comments at one point that James "couldn’t pluck up the courage to knock." But he had just rung the doorbell... Does knocking take more courage than ringing? I wasn't aware. Or how - in apparent Deep Self Reflection - she "get[s] hurt too easily. First James, now Ronan." Um, James was (apparently) a 5 year relationship, and she hadn't even really cried over him. None of that really the sign of someone who gets 'hurt too easily.' And shouldn't it have legitimately been a hurt anyways? Even though it turned out not to really be, he dumped her out of the blue after all! That sort of break-up, especially in a long-term relationship, if definitely not 'getting hurt too easily.'
Also weird character moments - why were the moms so close? I can get it on the surface, both being single moms next door to each other with kids about the same age. But with the boys playing pranks on Gigi for a decade or more, if the moms were friends, why hadn't they had a serious Come To Jesus moment with the boys about picking on Gigi? It seemed weird that the moms were so close when the children were so blatantly antagonistic. Of course, they were both very weirdly meddlesome, so maybe they bonded over that.
At least it was well edited from a technical standpoint, and a free find on Kindle too.
Alternating 1st person POV. No cheating, no OW/OM drama, no love triangles. Some minor trouble from his brother and his former best friend (not really enough to be full OM/Mean Guy drama). Juvenile banter and quibbling and attitudes from most of the characters, which could have been more fun, but a lot of the character and setting development left it a mush. They'd flip from sounding juvenile (and probably accurate for being about 22-23) to sounding like they're 5 yrs older. Rather a mess. HEA and no cliffhangers. Epilogue about a year down the road.
Would I read more from this author? Maybe, but not as a high priority and certainly not Liam's story. I don't like teacher/student stories anyways, but in the preview for the next book, his h (Blair, I think?) sounds extra irritating. The spoiled "I screwed up, but you have to fix my grade anyway, and you owe me special consideration for being your best student" attitude. A Karen in the making. Not someone I'd look forward to reading. And in a trope I don't like anyways? Yeah, big nope.
Ronan (H) is a college football player home for the Christmas holidays. Gigi (h) is his next door neighbor and target of his childhood pranks growing up. He thinks she is a stick-in-the-mud, while she plain ol' hates his guts. They are volunteered by their moms to serve as Santa and Mrs. Claus in the town's annual festivities. Can they survive the season without killing each other? Or - with a touch of family meddling - could there be something more there?
So, those devilish details. It's like the author started writing about college age characters, but was pulling in details and character attributes from a story about full adults - mid to late 20s. Basically, things weren't consistent, as if the writer couldn't decide who she was writing about, or was combining lots of scenes from other stories (patchwork writing?). Examples:
* Both leads are students, supposedly in their senior year (she's taking MCATs and he's looking at NFL possibilities). But he'll "just quit" to be with her - a semester before he graduates??
* The whole 5 year relationship with James. She's taking her MCATs, so she's a senior, presumably. Which means, if they'd been together 5 years, he's from her home town and they'd been dating in high school. But that doesn't seem to be the case at all?
* They talk about themselves "acting like teenagers," horny, idiotic, or otherwise. Except these characters are still in college. College seniors don't really talk like that - they're only 22 themselves (on average). It sounded more like someone in their mid-upper 20s would talk.
* Likewise, Lance seems so weird, the way they talk about him as 'a frat boy gone to seed'. Again, these are all contemporaries, so they're all in their early 20s. That just doesn't sound right for a 22 yr old talking about another 22 yr old. And Lance didn't go to college - older adults might call him a frat boy even if he hadn't been to college, but another college student wouldn't. Another example sounding like the way someone a little older would talk (and in that case, if they were all in their upper 20s, the story might have been written that Lance had been a college classmate, making this potentially an accurate description). Again, like the author changed her mind about the characters and setting while she was writing.
* Ronan seems super unconcerned about his ankle injury for someone on a sports scholarship so close to graduation and/or signing a pro contract. I get the "wanting something more than football" but this was a bit much.
* Speaking of attitudes about his football... she talks about him already having a "booming career." Except he doesn't. He's a student playing football, not a pro. He might know he wants to play football (which isn't even the case), but until he has a signed contract, he's actually in a very precarious position. Not a booming career at all.
* Liam is a mess, descriptively. He's older than Ronan by 2 years. Ronan's a senior, so even if he's a 5th yr sr (was a red shirt freshman, maybe), that puts him at 23-24 at most. Which makes Liam 25-26ish. But he describes himself as "a thirty-year-old temporarily living at his mother’s house." But he's not temporarily living with his mom - he's home for the holidays. Huge difference!! For someone mature enough to be living alone in Manhattan, teaching at a community college (working on his Master's, as we find out in the Book 2 preview), and aware enough of others to accurately play Matchmaker, he then flips and acts like he's still in high school! He's just all over the place.
* The setting is a descriptive mess too. Danville apparently has a massive Christmas parade where they will custom tailor Santa suits for two college students (who probably won't be back next year) but the Nutcracker production is sad and pathetic and barely attended? And even if the former Claus volunteers weren't available this year, wouldn't there have been someone to take their place who was (a) closer to the actual age and build of the characters, and (b) a settled local?
* Ronan is a player for Northwestern - located in Illinois. The story takes place 'back home' in Connecticut. So what team is he practicing with in CT over the holiday break?
* Who the heck are the Flames? Northwestern is the Wildcats and Rutgers the Scarlet Knights. Is the Flames a fictitious NFL team? But a local comments that Ronan is - present tense - the QB for the Flames??
* They move in together 3 months after they start dating. While they're both still finishing their senior years? Three months after Christmas is March - midterms in Spring semester, at best! Certainly not at a point where they could move intogether, seeing as their schools are Illinois and New Jersey.
* At the end, he's making money as an Instagram influencer. Has he graduated? Because if not, that's completely against NCAA regulations.
And aside from those big picture issues, there are little continuity inconsistencies that could be distracting too. She's wearing a little black dress in the restuarant, but jeans in the car on the ride home. Or how she noticed he had shaved at the beginning of their date, but by the end, she's running her fingers over his stubble. That sort of thing.
Minor quibble time. While the epilogue has a cute proposal, what tree topper is small enough to be mistaken for a ring box? Would have been much more believable if it had been an ornament and not specifically a tree topper - those are always so much bigger.
Finally, there are some just weird character comments, mostly from Gigi. She comments at one point that James "couldn’t pluck up the courage to knock." But he had just rung the doorbell... Does knocking take more courage than ringing? I wasn't aware. Or how - in apparent Deep Self Reflection - she "get[s] hurt too easily. First James, now Ronan." Um, James was (apparently) a 5 year relationship, and she hadn't even really cried over him. None of that really the sign of someone who gets 'hurt too easily.' And shouldn't it have legitimately been a hurt anyways? Even though it turned out not to really be, he dumped her out of the blue after all! That sort of break-up, especially in a long-term relationship, if definitely not 'getting hurt too easily.'
Also weird character moments - why were the moms so close? I can get it on the surface, both being single moms next door to each other with kids about the same age. But with the boys playing pranks on Gigi for a decade or more, if the moms were friends, why hadn't they had a serious Come To Jesus moment with the boys about picking on Gigi? It seemed weird that the moms were so close when the children were so blatantly antagonistic. Of course, they were both very weirdly meddlesome, so maybe they bonded over that.
At least it was well edited from a technical standpoint, and a free find on Kindle too.
Alternating 1st person POV. No cheating, no OW/OM drama, no love triangles. Some minor trouble from his brother and his former best friend (not really enough to be full OM/Mean Guy drama). Juvenile banter and quibbling and attitudes from most of the characters, which could have been more fun, but a lot of the character and setting development left it a mush. They'd flip from sounding juvenile (and probably accurate for being about 22-23) to sounding like they're 5 yrs older. Rather a mess. HEA and no cliffhangers. Epilogue about a year down the road.
Would I read more from this author? Maybe, but not as a high priority and certainly not Liam's story. I don't like teacher/student stories anyways, but in the preview for the next book, his h (Blair, I think?) sounds extra irritating. The spoiled "I screwed up, but you have to fix my grade anyway, and you owe me special consideration for being your best student" attitude. A Karen in the making. Not someone I'd look forward to reading. And in a trope I don't like anyways? Yeah, big nope.
December 2, 2018
Jingle Balls By: Vanessa WaltzLet "Jingle Balls" Brighten Your Day... You'll Laugh Out Loud At His Santa Display!!
The weather outside might be Frightful...
But, this Couple sure is Delightful!
So, cuddle up & Enjoy some Holiday Cheer...
Before Santa gets here with his Reindeer!
Watch in delight as she plays "Jingle Balls" with her Enemy...
Cuz, their animosity is quickly growing into want~ So desperately!I
Enjoy this book, Cuz it's worth more than a look...
In fact, you'll want to get "Jingle Balls" by hook or by crook!!
Ho, Ho, Ho... And a Jolly Old Elf...
One-Click this book, & don't stop yourself!!!
I was granted an ARC of Vanessa Waltz's "Jingle Balls" via Booksprout; I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time... Happy Reading!
December 29, 2018
Jingle Balls is a brilliant enemies to lovers holiday romance.
I have read a few holiday romances recently to get me in the Christmas spirit and this is the best I have read, a good enemies to lovers romance mixed with a Christmas theme.
I love and enemies to lovers romance and this was so much fun.
Ronan and Gigi have grown up together they are arch-enemies. Basically Ronan made Gigi's life a misery growing up with his side kick friends and his brother, they even paint-balled her prom date when he came to pick her up, you name it he did it.
"You egged my prom date. Remember that? Because of you, I spent the whole night crying on my couch."
"It was a coincidence. I didn’t know he was your date."
"Whatever. You were in every horrible incident of my childhood."
But don't they say there's a fine line between love and hate?
Now older, now maturer, well sort of, Ronan who is an NFL player and Gigi who is still studying, fresh from a break up with her fiance are visiting home for Christmas. Ronan and Gigi are pushed together to be Mr & Mrs Christmas for charity causes.
I laughed out loud at some of the scenes, Ronan sneaking into her house putting little dicks all over her Christmas tree, Ronan's innuendos, the banter and the squabbles and loved the build up to both of them realising that maybe they were meant to be together all along.
Jingle balls is funny, sweet, hot and leads to a heartwarming hea. Recommended holiday read.
Available in KU.
http:www.bbbf-sizzlereads-bestbookboyfrien...
I have read a few holiday romances recently to get me in the Christmas spirit and this is the best I have read, a good enemies to lovers romance mixed with a Christmas theme.
I love and enemies to lovers romance and this was so much fun.
Ronan and Gigi have grown up together they are arch-enemies. Basically Ronan made Gigi's life a misery growing up with his side kick friends and his brother, they even paint-balled her prom date when he came to pick her up, you name it he did it.
"You egged my prom date. Remember that? Because of you, I spent the whole night crying on my couch."
"It was a coincidence. I didn’t know he was your date."
"Whatever. You were in every horrible incident of my childhood."
But don't they say there's a fine line between love and hate?
Now older, now maturer, well sort of, Ronan who is an NFL player and Gigi who is still studying, fresh from a break up with her fiance are visiting home for Christmas. Ronan and Gigi are pushed together to be Mr & Mrs Christmas for charity causes.
I laughed out loud at some of the scenes, Ronan sneaking into her house putting little dicks all over her Christmas tree, Ronan's innuendos, the banter and the squabbles and loved the build up to both of them realising that maybe they were meant to be together all along.
Jingle balls is funny, sweet, hot and leads to a heartwarming hea. Recommended holiday read.
Available in KU.
http:www.bbbf-sizzlereads-bestbookboyfrien...
November 30, 2018
This was such a fun and entertaining read. Sweet and steamy. Gigi and Ronan have been neighbors for years. They were friends in their younger years until Ronan started teasing her and at times humiliating her. This continued up through high school. Is it really hate he feels for her or is it maybe his subconscious and repressed feeling of something more like love he is unaware of? Maybe Gigi is unaware she has had the same feelings for him? Both are back home for the Christmas holiday. Gigi has recently ended an engagement to a man she realizes was not the one. Now the two are forced together by their moms to help with the festivities in their small town. They soon realize they have feelings for each other and Ronan wonders if Gigi will forgive him for his childish behavior when they were growing up and see that he is not that same foolish boy she knew. Gigi starts to see that Ronan is not the boy she remembered and that he may be the one she was meant to be with. I enjoyed the journey these to go on to get the HEA they were always meant to have. Very well written. I look forward to more great stories from Ms Waltz.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
December 9, 2018
Great down to earth story with funny and relatable characters.
Gigi is home for Christmas after being dumped by her fiancé. She's not really looking forward to the holidays, because she's never really cared for them and now everyone will just be asking annoying questions. She definitely doesn't want to be at the next door neighbors house where the guy who tormented her when they were younger will be, that's for sure. Unfortunately you do what your mother tells you to do and pretend to like it. Ronan has known Gigi since they were kids, he used to torment her and play awful pranks on her all the time. When he sees Gigi again after all this time he realizes she's grown in to quite a beautiful woman and Gigi has always thought that Ronan was hot as h*ll. Grab this book to find out what happens between these two and their underlying attraction to each other. This is a great story, it was funny and down to earth. I absolutely loved it!!!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Gigi is home for Christmas after being dumped by her fiancé. She's not really looking forward to the holidays, because she's never really cared for them and now everyone will just be asking annoying questions. She definitely doesn't want to be at the next door neighbors house where the guy who tormented her when they were younger will be, that's for sure. Unfortunately you do what your mother tells you to do and pretend to like it. Ronan has known Gigi since they were kids, he used to torment her and play awful pranks on her all the time. When he sees Gigi again after all this time he realizes she's grown in to quite a beautiful woman and Gigi has always thought that Ronan was hot as h*ll. Grab this book to find out what happens between these two and their underlying attraction to each other. This is a great story, it was funny and down to earth. I absolutely loved it!!!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 10, 2018
Gigi comes home for Christmas after her fiancé dumps her. Her mom is spending the holiday with family out of town so that leaves Gigi on her own. She was invited to the next door neighbors to spend some of the holiday with however she didn't know that their son Ronan was back. Ronan tormented Gigi when they were kids and she hasn't forgotten. When Ronan sees Gigi he is immediately drawn to her yet he knows that he has his work cut out for him. Gigi just wants to be alone for this holiday she's tired of the pity looks and doesn't want to be around people. Ronan keeps popping up making things harder for her. Especially when the are both forced to be Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Things start to heat up between them the more time they are together. Can Ronan get Gigi to forgive him for the past?
This is a great story once I started reading I couldn't put it down. The chemistry is blazing hot between them. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a great story once I started reading I couldn't put it down. The chemistry is blazing hot between them. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 24, 2018
I received this book with the understanding that I could leave a voluntary and honest review.
In this book we meet Gigi and Ronan. Gigi would like nothing more than to pass out and wake up once Christmas is done. But on no her mother is determined to get her out of the house and living again after her fiance dumped her on the 1st of December. If this isn't fun enough for her her mother drags her next door to the one place she never wants to be due to the fact that her nemesis Ronan lives there. Ronan can't believe his luck he hates the holidays but he just had one hot woman starring at him that made him want to rethink the holidays. Can these two find a HEA or will their Christmas pasts be more than they can overcome?
This is an great story. It does have its ups and downs I really want to tell you about. However I don't want to ruin it for any other readers. I will say this book will have you hooked from the first word to the very end. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
In this book we meet Gigi and Ronan. Gigi would like nothing more than to pass out and wake up once Christmas is done. But on no her mother is determined to get her out of the house and living again after her fiance dumped her on the 1st of December. If this isn't fun enough for her her mother drags her next door to the one place she never wants to be due to the fact that her nemesis Ronan lives there. Ronan can't believe his luck he hates the holidays but he just had one hot woman starring at him that made him want to rethink the holidays. Can these two find a HEA or will their Christmas pasts be more than they can overcome?
This is an great story. It does have its ups and downs I really want to tell you about. However I don't want to ruin it for any other readers. I will say this book will have you hooked from the first word to the very end. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
November 28, 2018
Loved this enemies to lovers Christmas romance! These two were just heating up the cold days with their chemistry! Who would have guessed that under all that hate was a love just waiting to come out. Ronan was the bully from next door all through Gigi's youth. First they were friends, then they were enemies. Ronan grew up to be the better person while Gigi still held on to her resentment. I loved Ronan, he wasn't afraid to go after what he wanted, even if it started out as lust. Gigi took me a moment to worm up to. She let herself live in the past and hold on to her hatred and pain. Because of this she couldn't see what was right in front of her. I enjoyed the secondary characters as well. They helped mold this book and make it even more lovable. Some were easy to love and some were easy to hate. This was the perfect fast paced Christmas read. Highly enjoyed it! *I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.*
November 28, 2018
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with this story. Gigi and Ronan were next door neighbors growing up. He had done some pretty awful things to her growing up, so she hated him. They both come home for a Christmas visit and are forced together by circumstances. In fact, the first time they meet was, well, a little more revealing than normal. Which set the tone for most of the story.
Despite their relationship being a bit immature at the beginning, it drew me in. Ronan really was apologetic about his role in hurting her while growing up, and while I have a little trouble seeing her getting over his behavior as fast as she did, I was satisfied with how they dealt with emotions. Overall, a feel good story. Probably aimed at an under 30 crowd....
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Despite their relationship being a bit immature at the beginning, it drew me in. Ronan really was apologetic about his role in hurting her while growing up, and while I have a little trouble seeing her getting over his behavior as fast as she did, I was satisfied with how they dealt with emotions. Overall, a feel good story. Probably aimed at an under 30 crowd....
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 29, 2018
This was a sweet and sexy Christmas romance. Gigi has just been dumped by her fiancé so understandably she is not really feeling that festive. Her Mum drags her to next door’s Christmas thing. Whilst there she accidentally walks in on Ronan naked in bathroom. He always picked on her growing up so she can’t stand him but she can’t help noticing his hot bod and impressive package! He thinks she’s gorgeous now too. There’s some amusing banter between them. He’s a relentless flirt and makes it clear he wants her but she’s not willing to forgive him so easily. They are forced to spend more time together when they end up being Mr and Mrs Santa and the chemistry grows. He may have been a d**k to her growing up but in this he’s nothing but decent and I’m glad they got a hea together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 3, 2018
This is my 1st read and review for this author and I absolutely loved this story. Gigi and Ronan grew up together they were next door neighbors Ronan teased and tormented her everyday all the way through school and Gigi hated him with a passion. Years later Gigi is dumped by her fiancée and ends up coming back home, which coincides with Ronan coming home to rest his injury and see his family. Gigi notices Ronan shaving in the nude he has really grown into a man but Ronan notices her staring and smirks and he’s noticed that Gigi has filled out in all of the right places but Gigi won’t even give him the time of day. Their mother’s are scheming and throw Gigi and Ronan together for a Christmas event but can Ronan prove to Gigi that he has changed?. I loved this fun story and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.
December 5, 2018
I volunteered to read this ARC for an honest review. Loved this story about Gigi and Ronan. They have been neighbors forever. At one point they were friends, but when his dad left, Ronan became a grade a jerk. He and his brother would bully and pull pranks on her, some where really bad. Since he was the football jock and she was a nerd, it made it worse. They are both home for Christmas break, she just got dumped by her fiance and her mom's determined to keep her in the holiday spirit. They spend time together And work together to heal some of the rifts. Things heat up, the chemistry is crazy. Great Christmas story where they are forced to be Mr and Mrs Claus. Brings the spirit to sick kids. Love the tension and sparring. Must read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 29, 2018
This was a wonderful enemies to lovers holiday romance. Gigi was dumped by her fiance right before Christmas and goes home for the holidays. Her mother drags her to every event in order to try to lift her spirits. One party is at the neighbor's house, where Ronan the boy who tortured her with pranks growing up lives. She sees more of him than she expects and realizes how hot he has become. He also notices what a gorgeous woman she has become. He pulls a few more pranks on her but decides to date her. Once they kiss, the chemistry explodes. There are several twists that almost tear them apart, but they do get their HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 2, 2018
Ronan and Gigi grew up next to one another and used to play together as children. Then one day things change and Ronan starts pulling not-so-funny pranks on Gigi and she hates him. But there is a fine line between love and hate. Fast forward to both of their last years in college and both are home for Christmas break. As they are thrown together for different Christmas parties, Santa festivals etc, they start to think that perhaps the other one isn't as bad as they thought. and just maybe they don't hate each other as they thought. They also notice how sexy, hot and grown up each other has turned out to be and that there might just be an attraction that neither one can deny any longer.
December 3, 2018
Ronan and Gigi grew up together as neighbors but became enemies as Ronan was terrible to her when they were younger. Fast forward to college and both are home for the holidays, Gigi recently broken up with by her fiancé and despite the past, there is attraction. It’s a fun enemies to lovers story filled with steamy scenes and some fun, raunchy humor.
It did take me a little bit to get into. Some of the dialogue felt a little too juvenile but I had to remember that these characters are young! I’ve always enjoyed this author’s mafia reads and wasn’t so sure how I’d like something much more lighthearted, but it turned out to be a fun, steamy holiday read.
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via Booksprout. This review is being left voluntarily.
It did take me a little bit to get into. Some of the dialogue felt a little too juvenile but I had to remember that these characters are young! I’ve always enjoyed this author’s mafia reads and wasn’t so sure how I’d like something much more lighthearted, but it turned out to be a fun, steamy holiday read.
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via Booksprout. This review is being left voluntarily.
December 7, 2018
Funny, interesting, enjoyable, well writen, Nice chemestry.
Ronan & his brother Liam we're Gigi worth nightmare through out childhood. Now years later and a break up with her bad fiance, she comes home for X-mas and a change of scenery. Next door lives Ronan's mom, and the guys who bullies her in the past and does't want anything to do with the men.
Of course Ronan wants to prove her he has changed. But she does't see why she would forget & forgive him.
His mom will set them up as Mr & Mrs Claus, then Lian will set them up for a date. All goes well, things gets in the way and prevent them to be together.
I
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ronan & his brother Liam we're Gigi worth nightmare through out childhood. Now years later and a break up with her bad fiance, she comes home for X-mas and a change of scenery. Next door lives Ronan's mom, and the guys who bullies her in the past and does't want anything to do with the men.
Of course Ronan wants to prove her he has changed. But she does't see why she would forget & forgive him.
His mom will set them up as Mr & Mrs Claus, then Lian will set them up for a date. All goes well, things gets in the way and prevent them to be together.
I
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 30, 2018
Ronan spent most of his childhood torturing Gigi, sometimes with the help of his brother Liam. It took forever for him to try and prove to Gigi he had changed and that he wasn't the same colossal jerk she remembered. Gigi was just getting out of a disastrous engagement when she was forced to repeatedly interact with the man she had hated for years. She had absolutely no reason to forgive and forget some of the horrendous things Ronan had done to her over the years, until Liam decided to intervene. Things were going well between Ronan and Gigi to the point they really wanted a relationship, until a misunderstanding nearly derailed them permanently. I laughed at the tree decorations and gift Ronan surprised Gigi with.
'I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.'
'I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.'
November 30, 2018
Gigi is home for the Holidays after being dumped by her fiance, the last thing she wants to deal with is the guy next door. Ronan takes one look at hot, all grown up Gigi, and is determined to prove that he isn't the same kid that made her miserable when they were growing up next door to each other.
Gigi and Ronan are sexy, complex, and sizzling hot characters that overcome the past and find their happily ever after. Fascinating and fun plot with loads of raunchy humor. I think this is a must read Holiday romance. Fantastic book, I loved it!
I am voluntarily leaving an honest and non-incentivized review of this ARC.
Gigi and Ronan are sexy, complex, and sizzling hot characters that overcome the past and find their happily ever after. Fascinating and fun plot with loads of raunchy humor. I think this is a must read Holiday romance. Fantastic book, I loved it!
I am voluntarily leaving an honest and non-incentivized review of this ARC.
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